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1 Jan-Mar 2010 • the WWF-Cambodia Newsletter

WWF enforcement team in Mondulkiri takes action against wildlife crimes

Newsletter the WWF-Cambodia

Vol. 5, Issue 13 • Jan-Mar 2010 WWF, the global conservation organization

The recent months have seen a dramatic increase in the number of confiscations performed by WWF’s enforcement team in northeastern Cambodia’s Mondulkiri province. Intense patrol activities in combination with a growing network of informants have led to a series of successful operations against wildlife crime.

In early March, a patrolling team led by Mr Ten Sera, ranger with Forestry Administration (FA), seized a motorbike transporting 25kg of dried banteng meat inside Mondulkiri Protected Forest, a key protected area still harboring significant populations of large herbivores and predators. The 45 year old offender was arrested and is currently awaiting trial. WWF-Cambodia is working closely with the legal authorities since a successful conviction would send an important message to poachers and traders alike. In Cambodia, trade of endangered banteng (Bos javanicus) carries a prison sentence of up to five years

Directly within the provincial capital of Sen Monorom, wild meat was confiscated on several occasions from sellers at the local market by the area’s mobile enforcement team consisting of members of FA, the Ministry of Environment, Military Police and supported by WWF. Additionally, dried pygmy lorises –commonly used in traditional “medicine” – were seized from sellers in Sen Monorom and close to Busra waterfall, one of the region’s most visited tourist destinations.

Luckily, not all the team’s seizures consisted of dead or dried animals. In mid March, rangers stopped a suspicious motorbike in Mondulkiri Protected Forest and found it to be transporting 132 live green and imperial pigeons. The offender, who had bought the birds from a tribal bird trapper and intended to sell them for food, was fined by the authorities. WWF’s team members then had the pleasure to release all 132 pigeons back into the wild. This seizure demonstrates that bird

trappers are active in the area and pose a serious threat to local wildlife.

The team’s recent efforts led to another big success in late March when, after an informant tip-off, more than 150m3 of illeg al ly cu t luxu ry tim ber were confiscated in Pich Chreada and Koh Nheak district. This largest seizure in recent times represents a significant blow to the trade of luxury wood that threatens the integrity of the region’s valuable forests. The main suspect could face up to ten years in prison.

Mr Keo Sopheak, Manager of Mondulkiri Protected Forest, thinks that illegal activities are increasing in the area but that enforcement teams make a strong effort to respond. “Our team needs to work hard to control these activities through arrests and court cases that would act as deterrents for the criminals.”

After these successful months for wildlife crime control, the team is committed to further improve its strategies and hopes to benefit from the newly-launched wildlife crime hotline. With more public involvement, wild animals and plants can be protected from human exploitation

more effectively and one of the last remaining tiger habitats in Cambodia can be preserved.

©Rohit Singh / WWF © Rohit Singh / WWF

Mr Keo Sopheak, middle, Mr Prum Sovanna, right, and two other enforcement team members release green and imperial pigeons after the successful confiscation of 132 live animals.

IN SID E THIS EDI TI ON WWF enforcement team in Mondulkiri takes action against wildlife crimes………....1

Launch of the First Field Guide of the Rattans of Cambodia………3

Cambodians trained to handle dogs in Mondulkiri’s forests ………….4

World Wetlands Day 2010……..…5

Eco-tent camp development underway....6

Camera trap pictures confirm conservation importance of PPWS…..……7

Research as an important component of protected area management……....8

Scientists take more than ten thousand photos of dolphin during survey…….2

Mondulkiri Protected Forest ….….9

Visit of the Mondulkiri Governor….…...9


Notes from the Field

Scientists take more than ten thousand dolphin pictures during eleven days of annual survey work In March and April, WWF and Fisheries Administration’s Cambodian Mekong Dolphin Conservation Project (CMDCP) conducted its annual survey of the Mekong river’s population of Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris). During this time, the Mekong river is at its lowest and the dolphins are concentrated in and around nine deep pools, making them easier to see. This year’s survey was also joined by government officials from the Fisheries Administration, the Commission for Mekong Dolphin Conservation, as well as by staff from the Fishery Department of Lao PDR.

The survey method employed by the team - pho to -iden tif ication and mark-recapture analysis - consists of taking photos of each dolphin sighted and using the image of the dorsal fin to identify individu al do lphins. A mathematical model is then used to estimate dolphin numbers. The survey team used two boats to simultaneously travel up and down the 200km stretch of

the species’ known habitat from Kratie to Stung Treng province and the Lao border. Altogether, they took more than ten thousand photographs of dolphins.

“The added advantage of this method is that a photo indentification database of dolphins is produced which can be used to monitor future mortality, distribution and social patterns,” said Mr Gordon Co n g d o n , W W F ’ s Fr e s h w a t e r Conservation Manager.

This is arduous work in the height of the hot season and in an open-top boat! But the toughest work is still to be done back in the office.

“After the survey on the river, the team must sort through the thousands of photos and utilise Photoshop to produce clear dorsal fin images that enable identification of individuals,” Mr Gordon Congdon said. “A database is then created to identify the characteristics of each dorsal fin and record the location of the sighting.”

Photo identification helps provide the project with accurate information on the Meko ng dolphin po pulatio n and improved understanding of dolphin ecology. Combined with research into causes of dolphin mortality, this enables WWF to des ig n more effec tive conservation strategies.

The CMDCP, a collaborat ive project between the Fisheries Administration and WWF to implement the government’s dolphin conservation strategy, has been conducting annual surveys of the Mekong dolphin population since 2007. Previous surveys estimated that only 70 dolphins remain in the river. This estimate did not include calves and juveniles. The mortality rate is very high with an average of 13 individuals per year for the last 8 years. Clearly, such high mortality rates, particularly of calves, threaten the survival of the Mekong’s Irrawaddy dolphins.

This diagram illustrates the type of dorsal fin identification criteria utilized to produce unique dolphin ID codes. The presence and description of any of the main criteria shown above is used in combination with a dorsal shape code and dolphin sequence number to provide the dolphin with its own individual ID code.


After two and a half years of research in thirteen of Cambodia’s provinces, senior botanist Mr Khou Eang Hourt and his colleague Mr Lic Vuthy with the support of WWF-Cambodia produced the first “Field Guide of the Rattans of Cambodia” which was launched in March 2010 at the Himawari Hotel in Phnom Penh City.

Among the more than 100 participants were deleg ates from Fores try Administration, Ministry of Environment, and Ministry of Commerce, as well as rattan stakeholders from the Rattan Association of Cambodia and from rattan communities in five provinces. The launch was co-chaired by H.E. Chay Sameth, Director of the General Department of Administration of Nature Conservation and Protection of Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment and Mr Men Phymean, Director of the Department of Wildlife an d B io diver s it y wit h Fore s tr y Administration. More than ten media organizatio ns from TV, radio and newspaper also attended the launch.

As Mr Khou Eang Hourt explained, “Rattan has been used widely in Cambodia for centuries for construction materials, food and furniture, but botanical knowledge about rattan is still limited. There has not been much research on central questions like how many species of rattan there are, how do these species look, and what is their actual name.” He added “The limited botanical knowledge about these species causes a lot of problems to rattan processors and collectors. And that’s why we have written this book in order to fill the knowledge gap on this plant and also to contribute to sustainable rattan production and supply.”

The new guidebook aims to overcome the barriers of unclear information and taxonomy of rattan species, especially of those species valuable to processing and trading. The book describes very clearly 20 rattan species currently known in Cambodia, listing both their common Khmer and their scientific names. The book also supplies detailed information on rattan characteristics and ecology.

Mr Lip Cheang, the Director of the Rattan Association of Cambodia, was pleased with the Field Guide: ”I have seen the book and I find it useful for me and the association as well as for all the enterprises that work with rattan because we can use this book as a reference to communicate with rattan suppliers to provide the correct rattan species that we want for processing.”

“This book is very useful for sustainable rattan management in Cambodia and can also be used as a reference for future research about rattan in Cambodia,” commented H.E. Chay Sameth. “I really appreciate Mr Khou Eang Hourt and WWF-Cambodia for producing this book,” he added.

Among the benefits rattan can pro vide to local people are increased income from supplying ratt an as well as job opportunities in rattan processing. Rattan can contribute to national economic development through export of finished rattan products. Many more rattan species may be present in Cambodia but have not yet been discovered. Thus,

additional research on ratt an species is needed to coordinate the sustainable development of the rattan industry in Cambodia.

Launch of the First Field Guide of the Rattans of Cambodia


More than 100 people participated in launching the First Rattan Field Guide for Cambodia.

© Arnulf Koehncke / WWF

Seven different types of Cambodian rattan-made products were brought to the attention of participants of the launch and guests of the hotel where the launch took place.

Poster promoting the Rattan Field Guide.

© Arnulf Koehncke / WWF © Arnulf Koehncke / WWF

© Arnulf Koehncke / WWF


WWF’s researchers Khieu Oudom and Pin Chan Ratan a have been trained as dog handlers to take part in a study using specialized Scat Detection dogs to search the forest of the Eastern Plains Landscape for droppings from the area’s tigers and leopards. As part of the training, the team worked closely with the two dogs Scooby and Sadie from the University of Washingto n’s Co nservat ion Canines Programme. The initial training was quickly followed by success as both teams found their first scats only three weeks into the official survey, which was carried out from December 2009 until April 2010.

The tr ain ing was co ndu cted by experienced US-American dog handlers Ms Liz Seely and Ms Jennifer Hartmann, both with Conservation Canines, who accompanied the dogs during the survey. Training exercises and play proved a great way for the two Cambodians to earn the dog’s trust and love while working with the animals. What started out as an exciting new opportunity has turned into one of the best jobs Mr Khieu Oudom ever had.

“It has been great to work with these smart animals,” he said. “They are very friendly. And sometimes I don’t even recognize the dogs as wildlife, more as my siblings.”

Just one year ago, Mr Oudom had never heard of detection dogs. He liked dogs, feeding and taking care of them at his home, but he had never thought of

actually working with them. Now his daily routine consists of leading a black Labr ador through the ju ngles of Mondulkiri in search of tiger scat.

“The detection work includes walking the dogs into the landscape across different areas and types of forest looking for and collecting tiger scats,” he said. “As a reward for finding scat, the dogs get to play with the ball.”

The trainers were impressed by the handlers’ enthusiasm throughout the project saying that the two Cambodians truly exceeded expectations in their abilities to work with the dogs.

Mr Heath Smith, Programme Coordinator with Conservation Canines, confessed that he had been worried about training Cambodians inexperienced with such work. But the result of the survey project changed his mind. “I am very impressed with the understanding between the Cambodian handlers and the dogs,” he said. “These handlers are now as good as anybody we could hire in the US.”

The study has become a great success with over 200 scat samples collected, about 10% of which are large enough to be tiger scat. The detection dog project also drew attention from international press like BBC, Reuters, and VoA as well as f r om n at io n al me dia in c lu din g government run Television of Kampuchea (TVK) and other online news and web blogs.

Dr Thomas Gray, Biodiversity Monitoring

Advisor with the WWF’s Eastern Plains Landscape Project, was very pleased with the amount of collected scats. “The project is now seeking partners to conduct the genetic analysis that will assign each sample to either tiger or leopard and identify individu al big cats from their scat,” he said.

Moreover, Dr Gray was very satisfied with the development of Mr Khieu Oudom and Mr Pin Chan Rat ana, who, he hopes, will put their newly acquired skills to good use in future projects.

The current survey project on scat detection is part of an extensive research program on the remaining predators in Mondulkiri’s Eastern Plains Landscape, most likely the only place in Cambodia where tigers are still present. Information on the area’s remaining tigers is urgently needed by WWF-Cambodia to support its efforts to conserve this unique block of largely intact tiger-habitat within the Lower Mekong Dry Forest Ecoregion.


Cambodians trained to handle dogs in Mondulkiri’s forests

Cambodian dog handler, Mr Khieu Oudom leading detection dog Scooby along a dried-out riverbed in Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, closely followed by the team’s supply-elephant.

Dog handler, Mr Pin Chan Ratana, takes a break and reviews his notes on a scat sample found by detection dog Scooby in Mondulkiri Protected Forest.

© WWF / UW Center for Conservation Biology




Thanks for continuous support from: WWF-USA, WWF-Germany, WWF-Switzerland, WWF-Sweden, WWF-Austria, WWF-Netherlands,

SIDA, DFID/DANIDA, USAID, EU, ADB (SIDA, DGIS), IKEA, The Humanscale, Habitat Grup Empresarial, US Fish and Wildlife Service, October Hill Foundation, Darwin Initiatives (with IIED),

EGP/Netherlands Committee of IUCN, and the Royal Government of Cambodia.

Published by the Communications Unit Writers: Tep Asnarith, Kim Thida Kallianey, Eng Mengey, and Arnulf Koehncke

Editor: Asnarith, Co-editor: Arnulf Koehncke Copy-editors: Eng Mengey, Arnulf Koehncke

Additional editing by Michelle Owen, Programme Manager. © content 2010 Cambodia Country Programme. All rights reserved.

More information at www.panda.org/cambodia


‘Caring for Mekong Wetlands’ Notes from the Field

On the 10th of February, a crowd of about 500 people attended th is ye ar’s celebrations for World Wetlands Day in Ch lon g pr im ar y s ch oo l, Chlon g commune, Ch lon g distr ict , Kratie province. The event was organized by the Provincial Department of Environment with support from the Wetlands Alliance Programme, a partnership between the Asian Institute of Technology, Coastal Resources Institute, WorldFish Centre and WWF. This year’s suggested theme – caring for Mekong wetlands, a solution to climate change – set the focus on wetlands, biodiversity, and c limate change.

“More general objectives of this year’s celebrations were to increase local communities’ and authorities’ awareness of the Rams ar con ven tion , the importance of wetlands for biodiversity, and how to conserve and use wetland resources in sustainable ways,” said Mr Phan Kamnap, WWF’s Senior Freshwater Project Officer.

Mr Kamnap acknowledged the many stakeholders participating in this year’s World Wetlands Day, where local community members were joined by delegates from the Provincial Department of Environment, local authorities, district police, monks, as well as teachers and students from three local schools. “I am happy to see represent atives of g o ve r nm e n t, N G Os , an d lo c al communities aware of the significance of wetlands and involved in conserving them.”

Besides formalities and speeches, the celebration also featured games and competitions to promote the value of Mekong wetlands. In addition to a

quest io ns an d answers exe rc ise, volunteer participants, mainly students aged from 10 to 16, competed in writing poems and creating comics about this year’s theme as well as the significance of the Mekong wetland resources.

“This strong participation shows that Cambodian people, especially local people and the ir children, have understood the benefits of conserving the wetland resources upon which their livelihoods depend. It also gives us hope f o r su st ain able pro te c t io n an d conservation of Mekong wetlands in the future,” Mr Kamnap said.

Mekong wetlands are a crucial resource to Cambodia. They support and provide many benefits, such as fish for food, water for transport, irrigation for rice fields, natural flood contro l, t argets for ecotourism, natural habitats for humans and a large array of biodiversity, and finally a home to iconic and endangered wildlife species like the Irrawaddy dolphin.

According to Mr Sam Sarith, Governor of Chlong District, the Mekong wetland resources are very valuable for Cambodia and its people, but have decreased due to over-exploitation and use of illegal methods, especially in fishing.

“Concerted efforts and cooperation in Mekong wetlands management between the Cambodian government and NGOs, in cludin g the Wet lan ds Al lian ce Programme, promotes community-based conservation and enables their capacity

in su st ain able m an ag eme nt of Cambodian wetland resources,” he said.

In collaboration with the Cambodian government, the Wetlands Alliance Programme began its work in May 2006 to ensure effective and appropriate management of aquatic resources, contributing to improved food security and poverty alleviation. In Cambodia, the programme focuses on target areas along the Mekong main stream in Stung Treng and Kr atie pro vinces, northeastern Cambodia, as well as on Cambodia’s s o u t he ast er n c o ast . Sin ce t he programme’s foundation, WWF has provided key support to the development of the Wetland Alliance Programme in northeastern Cambodia.

Mrs Kim Thida Kallianey, in black t-shirt, pays attention to the presentation by students about their individual drama characters.

Many participants of this year’s World Wetlands Day wore the t-shirt specially designed for this celebration.

Students participated in a comic competition as part of this year’s World Wetlands Day.

World Wetlands Day is held annually to commemorate the signing of the Convention of Wetlands in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971. This intergovernmental treaty commits member countries to maintain the ecological character of wetlands of international importance and to plan for sustainable use of all wetlands in their territories. Each year since 1997, non-g over nment al org an iz ations, government agencies, and groups of citizens at all levels of the community have taken advantages of the opportunity to raise public awareness of wetland values and benefits.

© Yos Sothea / PDoE

© Phan Kamnap / WWF © Phan Kamnap / WWF

© Yos Sothea / PDoE



Eco-tent camp development underway in Cambodia’s Eastern Plains Landscape Six eco-tents which can have up to 12 people are currently being set-up along the Srepok river at the heart of the ecotourism zone in Mondulkiri Protected Forest. The camp will target mid-range tourists who are willing to pay for a unique wilderness experience in the largest intact block of dr y forests in Southeast Asia.

With the design equal to three star accommodation, the facility follows water and energy saving principles, so that costs to visitors and the environment can be minimised and environmentally friendly tourism is ensured.

“The selected site for the eco-tent camp development offers the opportunity to see a number of rare and endangered wildlife possibly encountered when going on a trek into the forest,” says Ms Olga van den Pol, Ecotourism Team Leader with WWF.

WWF’s recent camera-trap surveys in the area and the surrounding forests show the presence of large mammals including leopard, Asian elephant, gaur, banteng, eld’s deer, sambar deer, sun bear, wild pig, muntjac, as well as many large birds such as green peafowl, white-shouldered ilbis, sarus crane and different vulture species.

“Visitors will also have the opportunity to gain insight into culture and tradition of the biggest indigenous ethnic minority group that live on the edges of the forest,” Ms Pol says. “ The Phnong’s singing and dancing are the soul of their traditional and well-preserved culture.”

Besides the experience of genuine wilderness and cultural lives in the area,

other activities will provide visitors with an additional flavour to their stay. These include elephant and boat rides, guided forest walks, wildlife viewing from hides, and bird watching.

To g e t h e r w it h t h e F o r e s t r y Administ ratio n, WWF is curren tly searching for a potential investor capable to professionally operate this ecotourism business. According to Ms Michelle Owen, Conservation Programme Manager with WWF, the potential operator will be required not only to demonstrate competence in professional tourism, but

also to conform to principles of environmentally-friendly ecotourism.

“Based on our criteria for selection, we aim to find a responsible operator who is able to show us plans of energy use, h o s pit al i t y, w ast e m an ag eme n t, recycling, commitment to protecting and improving the natural environment, as well as involving the surrounding local communities in its tourism activities,” she says.

The eco-tent camp project contributes to establishing an ecotourism mosaic within the Cambodia’s Eastern Plains Landscape impleme nte d by WW F an d i ts government partners. Benefits from the development of ecotourism will assist in financing the management of protected areas and provide incentives for local communities to support conservation.

“By involving communities in ecotourism activities, the project increases the understanding of local communities about the importance of ecotourism to their environment and livelihoods and t h e re fo re pr om o te s c o mm un it y participat ion in natur al resou rce protection,” Ms Owen says.

Preparations are underway to set up the eco-tent camp along the Srepok in Mondulkiri Protected Forest. The camp’s six tents can accommodate up to 12 tourists.

Conceptual de sign of interior: Cozy couches will let visitors relax after exciting activities in the forest.

Conceptual de sign of interior: The tents are equipped with modern furniture and local handicrafts.

© I Ching Decor © I Ching Decor © I Ching Decor © I Ching Decor

© Olga van den pol / WWF © Olga van den Pol / WWF


Camera trap pictures confirm conservation importance of Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary


Over the last two years, WWF-researchers have installed more than 30 camera traps throughout the forests of Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary (PPWS). This protected are a in nor the aster n Cam bodia’s Eastern Plains Landscape is under co-management of WWF and Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment and forms part of the largest remaining relatively undistributed block of forest in mainland southeast Asia. A recent analysis of the resulting wealth of camera-trap pictures has now confirmed the importance of PPWS’s intricate forest mosaic for conservation.

Altogether, eight globally threatened wildlife species have been caught on film, including banteng, and clouded leopard. The camera trap data also revealed that two of the photographed species, gaur and pig-tailed macaque, rely heavily on Phnom Prich’s scattered patches of evergreen forests. Generally, the presence of these and other species is crucial to main t ain in g a fun ction ing fo rest ecosystem. Ensuring healthy wildlife populations will also attract national and internation al ecotou rists who can contribute to local livelihoods and e n c o u r ag e s u s t ai n ab le f o r e s t management.

Wildlife in protected area are threatened by illegal hunting and trading as well as by habitat loss due to illegal logging and mining. The decline of prey species is particularly dangerous for the area’s key carnivores. Moreover, long-term climate predictions foresee dry seasons to become even drier, which could lead to f u rt he r de cre ases in he r bivo re populations due to reduced water levels at the forests’ watering holes.

Mr Phan Channa, Sur vey Team Leader of WWF-Cambodia, stresses the importance of Phnom Prich’s rich habitat diversity for conservation of key species. “The mixture of dry dipterocarp and semi-evergreen woodland supports globally significant populations of species like Asian elephant, tiger, banteng, and gaur. At the same time, open habitats and seasonal wetlands are home to green peafowl and several threatened water bird species.”

In order to ach ieve sust ain able management and conservation of PPWS, Mr Channa believes that all aspects of WWF’s conservation-work are equally import an t. “We need to further strengthen law enforcement through additional patrolling and monitoring, but we also need to conduct more research on each wildlife species and the entire forest ecosystem as well as on impacts of

local communities’ collection of non timber forest products. At the same time, we need to carry on using community education to increase awareness of sustainable resource management while continuing the beneficial cooperation with the Cambodian government, local communities and aut horit ies, and NGO-partners.”

With this effective combination of research, enforcement, and community education, WWF-Cambodia and the Ministry of Environment in cooperation with local communities and NGOs hope to fulfill their collective mission for Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary – to conserve biodiversity and habitats and to sustainably manage the natural and cultural resources of the Wildlife Sanctuary for the benefit of local communities and Cambodia as a nation.

A large number of globally endangered Asian elephants still inhabit the forest mosaic of Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, here caught on film by a WWF camera trap.

© GDANCP / WWF © GDANCP / WWF

© GDANCP / WWF © GDANCP / WWF

Muntjac are often encountered in Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary.

© GDANCP / WWF

Green peafowl, globally endangered, is a characteristic bird of the dry forests in Mondulkiri province.

Leopards are regularly photographed by camera trap in Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary.

© GDANCP / WWF © GDANCP / WWF © GDANCP / WWF © GDANCP / WWF © GDANCP / WWF


Research as an important component of protected area management in the Eastern Plains Landscape


“We need to know what to protect” is what Ms Michelle Owen, WWF-Cambodia’s Conservation Programme Manager, will answer when you ask her to summarize in one simple sentence why research ranks so highly on WWF’s conservation agenda. Information on protected areas’ biodiversity values is essential to make impactful decisions on their management – which areas to conserve justifiably, how to prioritize different regions, and how to derive management strategies for each of these regions.

Most of WWF’s research approaches in its two protected areas in the Eastern Plains Landscape aim to answer two seemingly simple questions: Where are the animals and how many are there of them. While these questions may appear straightforward, acquiring such information is not always easy in vast and inaccessible forest areas, and several strategies have been developed to assess wildlife-occurrence and, if possible, estimate wildlife-densities.

In order to examine the presence or absence of wildlife in Mondulkiri Protected Forest and Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, WWF combines systematic observations from more than 100 camera traps with the many chance wildlife-encounters made by rangers, researchers, and community members. WWF’s Landscape Biodiversity Monitoring Advisor Dr Thomas Gray believes that camera traps are an ideal method to collect highly useful observations with minimal patrolling effort and disturbance to wildlife. “They are not only a key input to our forest management, but their pictures also help us raise awareness about the wildlife of the Eastern Plains

Landscape,” he says. “In individually marked species like leopard, they can even be used to calculate animal densities.”

In order to identify focal areas for conservation, information on the presence or absence of wildlife is often sufficient, and much of the initial research activities were aimed at producing such data. However, more in-depth information on wildlife-numbers is central to inform and evaluate management decisions in these focal areas. That is why, in the last five years, WWF-researchers have been using a variety of broad-scale and species-specific methods aimed at estimating animal densities.

In an on-going survey targeting the area’s large ungulates, WWF researchers are using line-transects to estimate species abundance. Mr Phan Chann a, WWF Survey Team Leader, sees line transects as a standard methodology for monitoring ungulates and other tiger prey in Asian forests. “Even though encountering animals at known hotspots like watering holes is always exciting, we need representative samples of the entire protected area to calculate animal densities,” he explains. “When our survey teams walk these pre-defined lines and note all animal encounters, statistical models allow us to estimate wildlife abundance from these observations, as

will be done for the endangered banteng based on recent line transect results.”

In addition to broad-scale approaches like line transects, WWF-researchers also design specific surveys aimed at focal species. Two such surveys – on Asian elephant as well as on tiger and leopard – make use of sophisticated DNA-based techniques to identify individual animals from their scat alone. Often, animals at the core of conservation efforts are already very rare or elusive which makes direct monitoring methods impractical. Then, indirect approaches such as these allow WWF researchers to produce accurate population-estimates that are central to deriving and justifying future conservation strategies.

Providing information for protected area management to preserve species and genetic diversity is of course not the only role for research in WWF’s conservation agenda. Evidently, any knowledge of animal-occurrence is also an important factor in local law enforcement against wildlife crime, in the sustainable use of ecosystem services by local communities, and in the planning and t argeting of sustainable ecotourism projects. These links illustrate once again the central role of research in the mission of WWF-Cambodia – to conserve Cambodia’s rich biodiversity with strong participation and support from all people.

During line transect surveys, WWF research teams walk along pre-defines lines through the protected area and record any wildlife sightings or traces they encounter.

Leopard is recovering in the Eastern Plains Landscape as shown by an increasing number of camera trap pictures.

© FA / WWF

© Phan Channa / WWF

© FA / WWF

© Phan Channa / WWF © Phan Channa / WWF



Mondulkiri Protected Forest is a protected area of over 3700km2 in Cambodia’s Eastern Plains Landscape co-managed by Forestry Administration and WWF. It still harbors most of the characteristic wildlife species of the Dry Forest Ecoregion. WWF’s research focuses on assessing the area’s biodiversity and preserving this large intact block of tiger habitat for the future.

Many camera traps in the protected area continue to deliver exciting data on in c r e as in g le o par d po pu lat io n. Photographing these big cats from both sides allows for their in dividual identification based on spot patterns so that both population an d home-range sizes can be estimated. A scientific paper comparing methods of estimating large c ar n ivo re den s it ies fr om s uc h capture-recapture camera-trap data is in preparation.

January 2010 saw the kick-off of a study on the area’s many watering holes or

‘trapeang’. In collaboration with US-A mer ic an rese ar c h o r g aniz at io n Smithsonian Institu tion, the study examines the interplay between water availability and the dry forest’s ungulate populations, especially that of the endangered Eld’s deer. Hopefully the study will also highlight possibilities to manipulate water availabilit y for the benefit of local herbivores.

The wealth of data from the area’s camera traps delivers an exciting opportunity to WWF’s research team as BBC Wildlife Magazine has recently launched a competition for Camera Trap Photo of the Year. This competition offers the chance to see WWF’s achievements in the Eastern Plains Landscape recognized by a wide audience and to be awarded with an unrestricted grant of $3,000 to fund future research activities. Winners will be announced in the fall of 2010.

Mondulkiri Protected Forest

On a recent visit to Mondulkiri Protected Forest (MPF), H.E. Chan Yeoung, Mondulkiri Provincial Governor, showed his appreciation of the work that WWF and Forestry Administration (FA) have done in and around this protected area. WWF and FA hosted a three-day visit attended by government officials of more than 40 people from the provincial governor’s office and from relevant provincial departments and projects including the Provincial Conservation Planning Working Group and the Project to Support Democratic Development t h r o u g h D e c e n t r al iz at io n an d De-concentration as well as Armed Forces, Police, and Court.

The governor’s stay featured visits to ranger outposts and to the area’s headquarters in Mereuch as well as a boat trip on the Srepok river. Both WWF staff and FA gave presentations on wildlife conservation and the project’s achievements within the last few years. They focused on management of Mondulkiri Protected Forest, including zoning, ecotourism activities, wildlife habitats, the corridors initiative, and research.

The governor and the other visitors joined FA and WWF in productive discussions on future conservation issues. Par ticipants f ocuse d o n gener al

conser vatio n work in Mondulkiri Protected Forest and its linkage to livelihoods of indigenous people. Given the danger of future road construction to MPF’s biodiversity values, participants also debated in depth a proposed road project linking Vietnam with Ratanakiri via Mondulkiri province while assessing options to minimize the effects on both MPF and Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary.

All visitors were satisfied with the trip and appreciated the work of WWF and FA. H.E. Chan Yeung showed his personal appreciation by recommending that FA with support from WWF should continue to work on MPF-management, zoning, ecotourism activities and services, as well as improvement of local livelihoods. The governor requested a weekly progress report from all protected areas of Mondulkiri so that he could pass on the information to Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Cambodian Prime Min ister, in the ir weekly video conferences. Finally, and especially important to WWF’s conservation goals, the go vern or rec ommended t he Cambodian departments of Public Work and Transport to work closely with their Vietnamese counterparts to minimize effects from road construction within MPF, especially road construction to the Vietnamese border.

Mondulkiri Provincial Governor visits Mondulkiri Protected Forest

© FA / WWF © FA / WWF





Leopard, Panthera pardus

Banteng, Bos javanicus

Sun Bear, Ursus malayanus

Sarus Crane, Grus antigone

Red Muntjac, Muntiacus muntjak

These camera-tap photos were produced in early 2010 by the WWF’s research team.


Dolphin survey 2010 gallery

Photos from the Field

Researchers waiting to record dolphins at Kampi deep pool as part of the annual dolphin-survey organized by WWF’s Cambodian Mekong Dolphin Conservation Project in collaboration with Fisheries Administration. © Hang Sereyvuth / WWF

Dolphins socializing at Kampi pool, Kratie province, as captured on film by the survey team. © Gerard Ryan / WWF

A pair of dolphin swimming and socializing photographed at Kampi pool, Kratie province. © Tan Someth Bunwath / WWF



A dolphin at Kampi pool showing his dorsal fin, an important character for the survey team to identify individual dolphins during the picture-analysis. © Gerard Ryan / WWF

The survey team traveling in small boats to photograph dolphins at at Khsac Makak, Kratie province. © Gerard Ryan / WWF

During the dolphin survey, the CMDCP team photographed this mother dolphin with its small calve at Koh Pdao, Kratie province, on 8 April 2010. © Gerard Ryan / WWF



Sometimes, dolphins surfaced close to the survey boat and allowed researchers to take close –up pictures, such as this individual at Kampi pool, Kratie province. © Gerard Ryan / WWF

The team on the look out for dolphins at Khsac Makak pool, Kratie province, on 2 April 2010. © Gerard Ryan / WWF

A group of dolphins racing past the survey team in Kampi pool, Kratie province. © Gerard Ryan / WWF



A dolphin showing a very distinctive dorsal fin at Cheuteal pool, Kratie province . © Tan Somet Bunwath / WWF

The survey team with cameras in hand waiting to capture dolphins. © Phuthorn / WWF

The survey team photographed these playing dolphins at Koh Pdao, Kratie province. © Tan Somet Bunwath / WWF



Participants unveil a campaign sign board placed in central Sen Monorom town as they celebrated the launch of the ‘Say No to Wild Meat and Illegal Wood’ campaign on 26 April 2010. Please go to panda.org/cambodia for more details. Photo © Tony Maling

Mr Seng Teak, WWF Country Director (right), applauds the hanging of the campaign posters in public areas like restaurants, hotels and Karaoke outlets. Photo © Tony Maling

The parade stops by each targeted restaurant and hotel to announce the campaign messages. Photo © Tony Maling

‘Say No to Wild Meat and Illegal Wood’ campaign


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